jhomuth

Dallas, TX

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Regarding propane tanks on travel trailers...is there any reason why you couldn't do a cylinder exchange at Walmart or grocery stores, vs. refilling the tanks that came with the trailer? Just looking at cost effectiveness, it would most times be cheaper to exchange the cylinder instead of refilling them from empty. But is there any reason you wouldn't want to do this?
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skipnchar

Topeka Kansas USA

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None except it costs a lot more and you'd need to wait until completely empty before exchanging rather than filling when it's convenient. I really have never seen any place that an exchange is cheaper than just filling the tanks. Just be aware that SOME LP dealers always charge for a complete fill even if your bottle is half full when you bring it in so be sure to ask ahead of time.
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nelson

Clio,Mi USA

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Many if not all of the exchange places are not full tanks. Other then that It's fine.
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harper223

West Texas

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I thought those tanks at the stores were the smaller ones- not the 30# tanks that come on many rigs. I average about $18 per tank per fill up from empty when I have to fill mine. Aren't the exchanges more expensive?
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downtheroad

Puget Sound

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When I had 20#ers I have found that the Blue Rhino exchange tanks are very close to twice as expensive as refilling my own tanks.
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Center Pin

Fort Langley, BC

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Around here, exchanging a 20# tank is 2X the cost of a fill. The reason there are so many tank exchange places around here is because it is a cash cow.
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crab80

Virginia`s Eastern Shore

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Several things to consider- only 15lbs. in the Blue rhinos now, More expensive per pound, You are trading in your nice new tank for one that may be many yrs old and rust is masked by fresh paint. I have done it both ways for use around the house, not on the TT, and refilling is always the best way to go IMO.
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christopherglenn

a little over an hour from Yosemite

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I refilled 2 bbq tanks for less then the cost of 1 exchange tank. I have yet to find and 30# exchange tanks.
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Keith M

Cle Elum

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Most trailers use 30 pound tanks while exchanges usually offer only 20 pound tanks so thats a big problem. It does cost twice as much, maybe even 3x as much. I also know a couple of years ago their was a discussion about Blue Rhino and Amerigas using proprietary valves making them impossible to fill from a refiller. . I havent heard anything recently about it so it might have been discontinued. Maybe someone who has recently refilled a Blue Rhino tank has more information.
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mowermech

Billings, MT

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Take my brand new 20 pound bottle, and trade it for an unknown bottle, with an unknown quantity of gas in it, rather than go get it filled, then pay 1/2 again to twice as much more for the "privilege"?
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